Sizing machine



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- 'Patented Apr. 1-7, 1945 sIziNG MACHINE Wilbert-Orville Benning, Los Angeles, Calif., asl signor 'to Paciilc Clay Products corporation of California Company, a

application october 30,1941, serial No. 417,175

4 calms.' (ci 10i-43)".

This invention relates to improvements in ma.- chines for 'determining the sizes of objectsand is particularly shown and described herein with relation to the grading of tiles and the like. Tiles produced -by the use of forming or press machines andby firing in a kiln are usually unevenI in size,

` varying, from those which are perfect .to those which are of ,uneven width and taper between their opposed side edges. The principal work performed by my invention is to gauge and mark tiles after theyare received from the kiln according to their width and taper,`whe'reb'y they are more easily and quickly sorted into groups according to their degree of perfection. An object of the inventionis the production .of a machine which will perform the above functions lautomatically in an eiliclent manner. A further object is the production of a machine-of the character stated which will operate rapidly and automatically while performing the above functions, whereby time, labor and expense in the manufacture of tiles are reduced to a minimum. l Grading of tiles in this manner has heretofore been generally accomplished by hand or at best only partly by the aid of machine. This has'- been found laborious and usually has resulted in im-l perfect sorting. By the use of my lnventionthese objections are reduced to a minimum and the ultimate product .is threby improved in'quality and accuracy as to classication.

While the following description pertains to a machine for grading square tiles it will be understood that with or without modification the machine is equally applicable `for grading tiles and other objects or other shapes without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Briefly my improved machine employs the following principal cooperating elements which operate in sequence and will later be described in detail as illustrated -by the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification: 1st, a carrier in the form of anendless belt traveling step by' step so as to place tiles successively in registering position to` be measured; 2nd, a feeder by which tiles are fed successively to the carrier; 3rd,"a, gauge coasting with suitable compensating abutmenttongrip each tile as it is deliveredinto registration therewith by the carrier Vand to measure the width and taper of the tile so held, and 4th, a stamping instrumentality suitably controlled to record on eachr tile the characteristics determined by the gauge.

These elements are assembled and caused to Y cooperate in the following manner as will be hereinafter described:

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Fig.y 1 is a side elevation of my' improved sizing machine, the parts thereof being' shown to some degree, schematically on account of the Vreduced scale necessary by thesize of the drawing; Fig, 2 is an end elevation of the elevator by which the tiles are fed-into the machine; Fig.

3 isa section of a detail taken approximately on linel 3 3 of Fig. 2: Fig. 4 is a'sectionof a detail taken approximately on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, showing the clutch mechanism by which a step by step motion is imparted to the carrier; Fig. 5 is a plan showing the parts in position immediately fol.y

lowing a complete cycle; Fig. 6 is a plan similar to Fig. 5, excepting that the overheadframe and stamping mechanism are removed so as to expose the inking plate and gauge mechanism more clearly; Fig. 7 is a plan similar to that shown in Figs. 5 and 6, excepting that the entire stamping andinking Amechanisms are removed to expose the` gauge and switch control more clearly,'the gauge elements'being shown when they are about tomeasure the width and taper of a tile; Fig. 8 is a side elevation'of the gauge for measuring taper, removedfrom the machine; Fig. 9 is a botsv tom plan of a portion of the gauge shown in Fig.

8:. Fig.. 10 is a section of a detail taken on line IU-Iil of Fig. '1, showing the bearing between the gauge head and its actuating lever arm; Fig. 11 is a -plan' ofthe actuating lever arms shown in Fig.

; Fig. 12 is a section'approximately lonlineA following the inking of the stamps; Fig. 14 is an end view of the operating mechanism illustrated in Fig. 12, showing the clutch mechanism which I controls the reciprocation of the carriage; Fig.' 15 is a section taken approximately on the line I5- IS of Fig. 14; Fig. 16 is a side elevation partlyv broken away and in section of a detail-showing one of the stamps; Fig. 17 is a plan illustrating the manner in which the stamps are adapted to 1 record the measurements as to Width and taper on the backs of the tiles; Fig. 18 is a side elevation of a detail showing the master switch; Fig. 19

is a plan of the structure shown in Fig.v 18, and

l Fig. 2.0 is a.V schematic diagram illustrating the operation of my improvement.

In the drawings, A indicates a mainframe which may be of any suitable construction. As

shown itL isprovvided with a pairv of longitudinal side members of the frame and driven by shaft l5.. The shaft i5 in turn is revolved to impart 4"side channel members I0 and Il between which dentally become jammed as they are fed to the chute, an automatic switch 46 of any suitable construction having an'actuating trip 41 (see Fig.

a step lby step forward movement of the belt by v a suitable driving motor I6(see Fig. l),through the interposed friction clutch I'l (see Fig. 4), the driving element o f which is driven by the belted counter shaft connection I3 and the driven member of which is; connected through counter shaft I9 and pulley and belt connection 2i) to the driving shaft l5. vThe friction -clutch is controlled as will hereinafter be described by an actuating solenoid 2i on the frame. This solenoid is connected through the linlr and bell crank connection 22 (see Fig. 4), and operating lever 23 with the driving member of the clutch. The functioning of the solenoid to control the operation of the clutch and in turn. the operation of the carrier is through the medium of a master switch C as will be hereinafter described.. A narrow longitudinal plate 24 is secured to the upper face of the side member lli and is provided with an inner straight vedge 25 projecting inwardly and disposed parallel with the inner vertical face of said side member. lap slightly below the level of said plate (see Fig.

12) and its adjacent edge 2B spaced slightly inwardly from said straight edge. The belt is arranged so that said adjacent edge 26 divergesY slightly as the .belt advances away from said straight edge (see Fig. 6) to immediately remove the tile from its registering position against the edge 25 of the plate 24 and prevent any tendency to wear or abrade the edge 25.

D indicates an elevator by which the tiles T are fed successively onto the receiving end ol' the carrier adjacent to the inner edge 26 of the The carrier belt has its Vupper 3) in the path of the tues thus jammed is adapted to open the operating circuit (not shown) connected with the operating motor 44 and stop the feed elevator until the obstruction has been remedied by an attendant. 'I'he elevator as described enables an operator to load tiles continuously upon the flights 38 'without interrupting the operation of the device.

In position to coordinate with the gauge and recording mechanism, which will hereinafter be described, a tile compensating abutment resembling a bar is let into the longitudinal recess 5i in the straight edge 25 of the longitudinal plate 24 (see Fig. 7). Normally the outer edge of this .bar is in alignment with the straight edge of the plate and .is freely hung on the outer ends of a pair of normally disposed links 52. These linksv 'tile by the gauge G, then bar 5D will move slightly to the right or left to compensate f or a binding effect that might otherwise occur, thus allowing the tile to move into true`registering position.

The use of the gauge and 'recording means employed by my invention is for determining automatically the overall dimensions between two opposite edges of each tile and to record on each tile the results of such measurement, as the tiles ployed further is'to determine automatically any carrier belt. This elevator may b e of any suit l able type, that shown employing a housing 30 having an upwardly extending channel 3| and pairs of endless chain belts 32 and 33 traveling over' suitably arranged upper drive sprockets 34 and lower idle sprockets '35 journaled in said housing. 'I'he inner upwardly traveling laps of these link belts are spaced apart a suitable distance to admita stack of the tiles therebetween with their lower edges resting upon bottom plates 36. The housing inclines upwardly and forwardly and near its upper end has a gate 31 (see Fig. 3)

across the space between the bottom plates. Pairs of flights 38 are carried by the belts at longitudinally spaced intervals upon whlchjthe tiles are stacked with their finished faces downwardly and their ribs 33 on theirv backs disposed longitudinally of the machine (see Figs. 6 and 12). Driving mechanism for the elevator of any suitable construction is provided and as shown conare conveyed throughthe machine by the carrier. v The use of the gauge and recorder emtaper between the two opposite edges so measuredand to also record on each tile the results of such measurement. The gauge G (see Fig. '7) by which these measurements'are made has a movably disposed head element mounted upon a yoke frame 56 from which an electrical switch arm 5l extends laterally. The head piece is positioned in the machine substantially in the plane of and opposite the compensating abutment 50 to cooperate therewith. Normally it is spaced sists of worm gearing-40 connected to the drive intervals apart. If the tiles in the elevator accilaterally from the abutment, suiliciently to allow the tiles to be moved freely therewith by the carrier. It alsohas an inner straight edge 58 which -is adapted to be moved againstand conform with the taper, if any, of the opposite edges oi' the tile which is measured by the gauge.

A pair of horizontal-channel guide rails 59 and 60 are secured in parallel relation across and upon the longitudinal side supporting bars I0 and Il of frame A. These guide rails have a oor or pan 6| therebetween extending from their laterally projecting extremities and covering a portion of the carrier belt without interfering with the tiles in their longitudinal line of travel and ward ends of the supporting arms 62`and 63 sliding upon the inner end of floor 6i, thus permit- :..ting free lateral and tilting movement in a horizontal plane to measure both width and taper of each tile fed through the-machine. end of a lever arm 65 bears against the inner wall of vthe gauge head -55 through an antifriction bearing 64 andsaid lever is pivoted between its ends upon the floor 6| by the pivot 66 and is thus tilted by the lateral movement of the gauge which Varies according to the width of tile being measf ured. :The remaining lever arm 65 carries an electrical switch arm 61 which -is adapted to sweep over and make electrical contact with the series of switch points 68, theflatter being connected with and controlling-the printing units of the recording mechanism as will be hereinafter described.l Normally when the gauge meas'- ures a tile of correct width the switcharm 61, contacts only the middle contact point of the which are in theform of eccentrics 69 a'id 10 held rigidly by insulated pivots 1| upon the floor 6|. Normally, that is when the gauge is in contact with a tile on the carrier and the tile does not taper beyond the tolerance set, the switch arm 51 remains in neutral position out of contact with the adjustable terminals 69 and 10 but if the tile which is measured tapers beyond the tolerance set, the gauge is consequently tilted in a horizontal planeand the switch arm 51 swung accordingly and made to contact either one or The inner f able step bearing 84. This 'step bearing is carried by ,a suitable 'frame 85 which depends from the projecting ends of the side rails 59 and 60. The cam 8| is shaped so that during a complete revolution of the stub shaft and while a tile is held in registering position by the carrier belt B,

the gauge is first released from inactive position through a reciprocating *o automatically record on each tile, measuring characters determined by the gauge. These characters are adapted to indicate overall dimensions or width transversely/between two opposite edges of the tile -or thelike, and longitudinal cal spring 94 and carries on its lower end a printthe `other ofv said terminals. The terminals 69 and 10 are connected together and with lthe stamp solenoids of the recording mechanism as will be ing type or stamp 95. Through the energizing of the coil its core is thrust downwardly' to deliver a printing impressionupon the tile. Spacing blocks 96 at each of the opposite sides serve to assist in supporting the-plates and the supporting head, on a swinging overhead frame Land the pair of parallel lower guide. runners 91. The

overhead frame has a pair of lside supporting arms 98 and 99 to which the spacing blocks 9,6 1 and plates 9| and 92 are secured. These supporting arms are held spaced apart by the cross braces |00 and their inner ends are hinged .to

either into median position or. into a positionto record vthe degree of under or over widthof the tile which is being msured. After such recordation the gauge is returned to normal inactive position .automatically by the means described immediately following and the carrier belt moves forward a step,v thus removing 'the tile already measured and/placing the following tile. on the carrier in registering position in readi- Y fromcontact with a tile which has been measured. Also by the releasingmovement of` lever 16 the gauge is permitted to be forced into measuring coaction with a tile. The lever 16 is pivoted at one end y.on the floor 6| and carries an f antifriction fulcrum roller 80 between its ends bearing against an actuating cam 8|. This cam is carried by a verticalstub shaft 82 which is journaled in a vertical sleeve shaft 83, both of said shaftsbeing also freely-journaled in a suit'j' swing in a vertical plane upon the bosses |0| which arecarried by theguide rails 59 and 60-. The pair of guide runners 91 extend downwardly and forwardly from the lower edges of the mediaril portions of the arms 98 and 99 to the lower surface of the stamping head where they assume horizontal position` and are fastened. These runv ners in cooperation with the reiprocably pro-- lpelled guide rollers |02 serve to raise the stamping head F from the position shown in Fig: l2

into the position shown' in Fig. 13, after each.

'stamping head F and to the end portion of the f connecting rod |09 rlearrthe crank arm |08 (see A 4Fig. 5).

A suicient number of the recording stamps is provided for the various measurements above-'the back of the tile which registers with' theV gauge and abutment sizing elements and.

which is supported by the carrier belt.

The size and taper recording stamps are-provided with suitable type elements 95 for printing a record on the upwardly facing backs ofthe tiles showing measurements or suitable characters determined by the gauge. The actuating coils of the sampsare suitably connected with the con- .t..o.linr circuit which is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 20 and which shows the vcoils congauge.

neotedl with the contact points 88 over which the switch arm 61 is caused to sweep according to the width of each tile which is determined by Athe I'he recording stamps can be arranged as desired for marking the tiles both as to width i and taper. As shown they are grouped in a triangle and provided withprinting type indicia representing the following:

2-Standard. ZN-.OOZ inch below standard. N.0l4 inch below standard.

- IN-.021 inch below standard. 1.028 inch below standard. 2W-.007 inch above standard. W-.014 inch above standard. {3W-.Q21 inch above standard. :1l-.028 inch above standard.

I The relative positioning and manner of marking the tiles with these indices, which is accomplished automatically as they are gauged by my improved apparatus is illustrated in Fig. l'l. The above scale is only illustrative and is regulated according to a certain tolerance which is subject to change as desired.

The guide rollers |02 are freely iournaled upon the opposite ends of shaft |05 which is .iournaled in a carriage H and carries the vfreely journaled inking roller |06. This carriage is guided in the channel guide rails 59 and 60 and is supported upon antifriction rollers I01.which'bear upon the floor 6|. The carriage is reciprocated in said rails by a crank arm |08 which is mounted on the upper end of the stub shaft 82 and revolves in a horizontal plane. The free end of the crank arm l is movably connected with the carriage by the conreturning the inking roller is inked by traversing an inking plate ||0. The inking plate resembles a disk which is pivotally mounted upon the fixed table 13. This table is supported on the oor 6| above the gauge mechanism and connecting rod |09. .During each revolution of the stub shaft the inking disk is changed in position to spread the ink Vevenly by revolving step by step through the operation ofgsuitable ratchet mechanism employing the main ratchet wheel III, mounted on the pivot ||2 of the disk, spring pressed ratchet dog I I3 and click pawl ||4 (se Fig. 6). The ratchet mechanism is actuated by a transverse bar ||5 on the carriage which strikesthe ratchet actuating barJ I6 near theend of each forward portion of the stroke of the carriage as shown in Fig. 6.

l 'I'he stub shaft 82 is driven bythe driving sleevel 83 which in turn is continuously revolved by intermeshing bevel gears and |2I and driving `pulley |22,'said gear |2| and pulley |22 being mountedv on a counter shaft ||1 which together vwith gear |20 and sleeve 83 are suitably journaled in the appended frame 85. The driving pulley gauge and the carriage and cause the functioning of the stamping head. This clutching means comprises a horizontal toothed driving disk |24 which is integral with the upper end of sleeve 83,

and a companion superimposed driven disk |25 of larger diameter rigidly connected to the stub shaft, said driven disk having a stop engaging shoulder |26 let into its periphery. Pivoted upon the upright member |21 of the appended frame 85 by bearing |28 is apair of horizontal arms |28 and |30, which carry a combined stop and trip |3 I. The outer ends of these arms fold inwardly against the companion upright, member |32 of the appended frame, being notched to admit saidmember. The stop 4and trip member |3| func- 'tions-to engage and hold the stub shaft and the crank arm from revolving at the end of each cycle of operation of the machine, being forced into engagement with the stop shoulder |28 by the retractile spring |33 which is connected to the upper arm |29 and to a portion of the appended.

frame 85. The pair of stop and trip members |28 and |30 swing outwardly against the tension of spring |33 to disengagefthe combined stop and trip member |3| from the shoulderlN. When released, member |3| rides freely upon the perlphry of disk |25. The combined stop and trip |3| is released by'energizing the coil of solenoid |34 at the proper time immediately after a fresh tile has been moved into registering position by the carrier between the coacting sizing members 50 and 55. This solenoid has its propelling core V|35 connected to the free end of the upper member |29 so as to urge the pair of members carrying the combined stop and trip out of engagement. The clutching action between shaft members 02 and 83 is produced by a dog |36 which is secured between its ends by the pivot |31 upon the driven disk |25 and has its work end |30 arranged to beveled shoulder |40 on the combined stop and trip |3| and thus trip the dog out of engagement at the end of each cycle of operation of the ma-` chine. Thus when the solenoid |84 is energized the dog |36 is released into engagement with the toothed vdisk |24 and causes thecrank arm |08 and cam 8| to revolve andreciprocate the carriage H and gauge controlling element 15.

Primarily the functioning of the carrier, .gauge and stamping mechanism 'is controlled electrically and these elements are driven by a suitable source of 'power suchl as motor I6, independently but in synehronism with the operation of the tile feed elevator D. A suitable circuit is provided, such as is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. l20, for causing the various parts to function in proper 'e sequence. A spring restoring normally open elec'- tric switch |4| is mounted on theappended frame in the path of the insulated switch closing brush |42 between and when the driving and driven. disks |24 and .|25 are connected and revolve, so as to sweep over and close a controlling circuit for a brief instant to restore through the energizing of a relaymechanism Rf. a circuit for operating the carrier belt ata later instant. This restoring occurs for a brief instantduring 'the Normally the driving sleevelorquill 88 and stub Y shaft 82 are -revolubly free but coaxially arranged and conng'ectedat predetermined intervals of rotation by suitable clutching means to operate the early portion of a complete revolution of the driven.-stub shaft 82. Also a normally open solenoid cut out switch |44 is mounted on'the appended frame 85 in the path of said switch closing brush |42. This spring switch is adapted to open the circuit through solenoid coil |34, thus permittilesy successively and regularly 2,378,941 'shoulder' |26, for the purpose as will be hereinafter described.

The master switch C (see Figs. 18, 19 and 20) is composed of amultiple set of switch arms, the arm.|50 of which is raised or lowered by a shaft carried by a swinging link |52. This link is swung from a suitable insulated support |53 on the side plate 24 and carries on its free end a roller |54 in the path of the tiles such as T, to be raised against the tension of the spring |50v (see Fig, 19) by each tile as it moves into registeringposition with thegauge elements. vIn this manner the shaft '|5|, when raised, opens the lower pair of normally closed 'spring switch arms |50 and |55, and closes the upper contacts of the normally open upper switch arms |50, |56 and f |51.` The spring arm |58 is carried by the insulated support |53 and its outer end presses down upon the shaft |5|. The lower. pair of switch arms |50 and |55 when open prevents a relay |59,

actuated switch |59' from.

partly on the plate 24 of the main framey and.`

partly on the overhead frame L and is so arranged that its contact arms |60 are closed by the overhead frame (see Fig. l2) ,when the latter to permit the gauging mechanism to function. As each tile approaches registeringpositon the roller |54 is raised which closes the upper armsv |50, |56 land |51 of witch C,`thus energizingsolenoid 2| and releas g clutch |1. This stops the forward motion of carrier B. Solenoid |34 is also actuated and releases the dog, |36,- causing the driving disk to be connected with the driven disk |25 to transmit revolving motion to shaft 92 and revolve Vthe crank arm |08. .As shaft 82 revolves the crank arm |08 reciprocates' the carriage H from the position shown in Fig'. 5, backwardlyv tothe position shown in Fig. 12 and return during a complete cycle ofloperation. As soon asdisk |25 starts rotating the-insulated brush |42 releases switch lu 'inte openposmon, thereby open-vv is in lowered position andthe carriage His at l the back end of its. stroke,v with the stamping elements of vthe recorder in juxtaposition to the surface of the tile which is in registration. Switch K has its normallyl open spring .contact arms |6| mounted on the side rail 60 in the path of an insulated brush |62 on the connecting rod |09, said brush being positioned so as to sweep against and close the switch arms for a short period during the early portion of the stroke of the carriage H. In this manner the stamping elements are adapted to function at such time as the sizing ing the circuit through solenoid |34. (At this time the combined stop and trip |3| rides on the periphery of disk |25. The switch |44 remains /open until la cycle of operation is completed whereupon it is again closed as shown in Fig. 15. Upon continued rotation after starting, the roller 80 on arm 16 drops into the depressed portion 86 of the cam, thus releasing the sizing '-element G under the action of spring 12 and causing its head and compensating abutment togripthe opposite pair of side edges of tileT, register the distance and taper betweensaid edges, land swing their switch arms 51 and 61 accordingly. `During this operation the carriage is thrust backwardly and the stamping head F and over-head frame L are lowered with the stamping elements 95iniuxtaposition to the upper surface of the e tile to record by printing thereon, as shown in Fig. 12. When lowering, the overhead frame L closes switch I automatically followed by the closing of switch vK in series therewith by insulated brush |62, whereuponone r more stamping solenoids suchas 90 are energized as controlled by,v

the gauge switch arms 51 and 61. During the further rotation of cam 8| and the return of the and tapering measurements have been completed and arms 51 and 61 have come to rest. Then the insulated brush |62 closes contacts |6 which are in series with the printing switch I, thereby causing the proper solenoid coils 90 and recording stamp to function. y 'i -The relay controlling elements. |43 and |59,

including the relay controlled switch |59', are mounted upon a shelf |63 which is secured Eto the guide rail 59 over and clear of the carrierbelt.

The feed elevator is, driven continuously at suitable speed by the belt 42 and motor 43, its

operation being controlled by the handoperable switch 46 when desired'and checked automatieany by the trip 41 in case the tiles pile up and jam, should the feed belt yB stop functioning f or any reason. The vertical drivevshaft 03 is also revolved continuously by the motor I6v through the connected belting |23, and the lcarrier belt is drivenvstep by step to feed the tiles into and out of registering position by the clutch controlled drive |1, which also receives its initial driving power from motor I6. The tiles T are fed forwar'dly at regularintervals apart by the elevator upon the carrier belt I2 .with their backs facing i upwardly and the ribs 39 o n theirbacks extending longitudinally. The regularity of feed places thev in registering crank arm toA starting position-after stamping has taken place, roller and arm 16 retractthe` gauge head G. gauge elements.

thus releasing the tile from the thus releasing solenoid 2| and closing clutch |1.

This causes the' carrier belt to resume forward movement and carry the tile which has been l measured from beneath and move a fresh tile forward into registering position in readiness to repeat the cycle of operation. As the tile leaves registeringv Position after being measured the switch roller |54 drops, closing switch arms |50 and |55 of the master switch and opening switch f arms |50, |56 and |51, thereby-restoring the electrical circuit in readiness for the-following sizing cycle. Y

Near the end of each complete cycle of operation of cam 8|. disks |24 'and |25' and arm elements. |29 emiv lso, the combined trip and stop |3| drops backl into engagement withV shoulder |26 thus bringing driven disk |25 to rest bydisengaging the dog l|36 'from'engagement withthe vteeth of the constantly revolving driving disk |24. While the sizing elements are gripping theopposite edges of the tile, edge 58. of thevgauge head ispressed rmly through the action of spring 12 flat against the adjacentV side. edge of thetile,

thus forcing the tile with its opposite side edge flat against the compensating abutment bar 50.

As a result the gauge arms respond by swinging L position Awith the gaugeelements c and' so and below the stamping head F for a period sumcient l Immediately following, the insulated brush |42 on driven disk |25 closes switch |44, actuating relay mechanism and switch |59",

to right or lef-t from median position. When the sizing head G has reached its forward limitoi travel, as determined by the particular tile which is embraced, the closed circuit through switches I and 'K energizes the particular stamping solenoids selected by the-switch arms l1 and 81 and cause the stamping elements to function lby printing a complete record of the measurements deter'- mined by the gauge elements. Upon switches I and K closing, one or more stamping solenoids may be actuated as has been selected by arm 61 across series of switch contacts il, determining the size to be stamped on the back of the tile. It

-5 will be noted that the taper switch arm Il is rig- -idly attached to the sizing head G and it'the opposed side edges in contact with the sizing eie- .rnents 65 and Il taper and are out of `parallel itl will therefore cause bar il toswing into contact asvacu of, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the edges, one of the gauge elements comprising a W ith eitherA of the taper controlling contact eccentrics 69 and 'HLv Thesetaper'indicatin contacts actuate a stamping solenoid su as 9B, operatingv simultaneously vwith the sizi g stamps.

The eccentrics I9 and I0 are adjusta e apart to confine, the range of movement of the ta r switch 'arm either way. i

As an illustration of sizing and recording a tile,

'which for example is of excessive lwidth as com- Pared with a known standard size and in addition iaultyas to taper (opposed edges not being parallel, the tile X shown in Fig. 17 is illustrated as havingbeen printed by the machine to indicate that .007 inch wider than the size of the tile adopted as a standard, and that its taper is great- .er than the .12 inch tolerance allowable. In this instance the arm 51 attached rigidly'to the siz- `ing head G is swung either to right or left to contact either eccentric 1li or -1I these eccentrlcs having been adjusted to a predetermined tolerance of .012 of an-inch. "I'he arm 61 in this e'vent was swung from median position to the left into contact with both the center contact 68 and the one next to it. y

The type inking roller |06 revolves overl the surface ofrthe-inking disk H0 and receives an evenly spread supply of ink` while the caniage H reciprocates. During the median portion of each .cycle of operation of the machine the overhead frame L is raised into the position shown in Fig. 13 by the pair of guide rollers Il! bearing upwardly against the g'uide runners 91 and the inking roller |06 sweeps over and inks the lower print- .ing surfaces of the type on the printing type elements 95 of the stamping head F. The inking disk in turn is revolved step by step during the reciprocation of the` carriage by the g. ratchet mechanism, below the inking disk, which receives its initial motion by the reciprocablebar III on -variations in width between the opposed side f compensating abutment and the other ycomprising a head having a controlling switch arm movable to register variations in taper of the opposed side edges of one of the tiles, and an auxiliary switch arm influenced by the adjustment of said head when. engaging a tile and'v movable to register edges thereof, a recorder having stamping elements above the surface of the tile engaged by said gauge elements and coactively connected with said switch arms to actuate said stamping elements and record the width and taper registered by the gauge elements upon a surface of a tile which is engaged.

2. In a machine forY sizing articles, testing mechanism for determining the taper between opposite longitudinal side edges thereof, a conveyor for simultaneously moving a series ofthe articles into successive operative positionl with relation to the testing mechanism, means for driving the conveyor, means actuated by said driving mechanism for causing the testing mechanism to function, said testing mechanism comprising an abutment and a cooperating gauge between which the articles are engaged by their longitudinal side 40 edges, said-gauge being freely tiltable to automatically correspond with the taper of the side edges of each article, and stamping mechanism actuated by the movement of said gauge.

' 3. In a machine for sizing articles, testing mechanismior determining the width and taper between opposite longitudinal side edges thereof, a conveyor for simultaneously moving a series of articles into successive operative position with relation to said testing mechanism, means for driving means for actuating the testing mechanism, said testing mechanism comprising an abutment and a cooperating gauge between which the articles are successively engaged bytheir longithe table 13 beingstruck by the transverse bar IIS on the carriage H, n ear the end of each forward'.l movement of the carriage. In this manner the inking supply surface is constantly changed to provide even distribution of ink.

In accordance with` the patent statutes, I have described the principles, oi' operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent thebest embodiment theretudinal side edges, said gauge being movable in relation to said abutment to measure the width between said longitudinal side edges of each article and being freely tiltable to automatically correspond with and register the taper of said edges.

4. In a machine for sizing 'tiles as defined in claim 3, stamping mechanism operated by the gauge to automatically mark each tile in accordance with variationsin width and taper which are determined by said gauge'.

@WILBERT ORVILLE BENNING.

scope of driving the conveyor, and means operated by said. 

